Gas Turbine Compressor Diluent Injection for NOx Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engines face inefficiencies in reducing NOx emissions due to excess oxygen, which elevates combustor temperatures and produces undesirable emissions, and existing methods require additional energy sources for diluent compression, affecting power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Supplying a diluent directly to the compressor section of a gas turbine engine, where it is compressed alongside ambient air, eliminating the need for an auxiliary compressor and allowing for controlled oxygen reduction in the combustor section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If an auxiliary compressor is used to pressurize diluent before introducing it into the combustor section, then the diluent can be supplied to reduce oxygen content and combustion temperatures, but the auxiliary compressor requires additional energy sources, reducing the overall power efficiency of the gas turbine engine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the diluent compression function with the existing compressor section by introducing the diluent at the inlet of the compressor section. The compressor section compresses the mixture of diluent and ambient air together, eliminating the need for a separate auxiliary compressor. This integration resolves the contradiction by maintaining NOx reduction capability while eliminating the additional energy consumption associated with a separate compression system.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor section is given multiple functions: it not only compresses ambient air for combustion but also compresses the diluent mixture simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows the single compressor section to handle both air intake and diluent compression, removing the need for dedicated auxiliary compression equipment and improving overall power efficiency while maintaining emission control benefits.
2Reliability
If excess oxygen is present in the compressed working fluid entering the combustor section, then sufficient oxygen is available to support combustion, but temperatures within the combustor section become elevated and undesirable emissions including NOx are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the oxygen concentration parameter of the working fluid by introducing diluent (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or steam) into the compressor section inlet. This dilutes the oxygen content in the compressed mixture before it enters the combustor section, thereby reducing combustion temperatures and NOx formation while still maintaining sufficient oxygen for complete combustion. The parameter change approach allows precise control over the oxygen-to-fuel ratio.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances emission performance by reducing NOx production and improves power efficiency by eliminating the energy consumption associated with auxiliary compressors, while maintaining sufficient oxygen for combustion.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the diluent and ambient air together within the compressor section
Data Source
AI summary
A power generation system includes a gas turbine engine having a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section. The power generation system includes a diluent supply system for supplying a diluent to the compressor section. The supplied diluent and ambient air are compressed together by the compressor section before being transferred to the combustor section. A method for facilitating improved emissions performance of the gas turbine engine using such a system is also provided.